Kim Elliott, age 7, of High Point, N.C., for her question:

DOES THE GROUNDHOG REALLY COME OUT ON GROUNDHOG DAY?

Groundhog Day is Feb. 2. On that day the groundhog, alias the woodchuck, is supposed to wake up from his winter sleep and come outdoors to take a look at the weather. If the skies are cloudy, he stays awake. But if the sun is shining and he can see his shadow, back down into his burrow he goes and sleeps for another six weeks. Or so the old timers tell us.

Actually, sad to say, this groundhog story most likely is false. The fat, lazy fellow hibernates in a deep sleep until the warm spring weather arrives. He does not wake up and go back to sleep. So we cannot depend on him to predict whether the spring weather will be warm and early or cool and late.